No threat found near Charlevoix Elementary School

CHARLEVOIX – A youth carrying what appeared to be a long rifle near Charlevoix Elementary School on Monday afternoon was found to not be breaking any laws.

Shortly after 4:45 p.m., 9-1-1 was called by a concerned citizen who witnessed a "high school-aged boy walking through the woods with what was reported to be a long rifle."

This took place just off Waller Road near Mount McSauba Road in Charlevoix Township. Members from the Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office, Charlevoix City Police and the Department of Natural Resources responded to try to locate the individual with officers also dispatched to the school just as a precaution. At this point in time, there had not been any indication the reported individual had any malicious intent or that he was headed in the direction of the school. After following up on some leads on the whereabouts of the subject, he and two of his friends were located at Mount McSauba where the local boys had been target practicing with BB guns.

According to a Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office release, at no time did any illegal activity take place nor was there any malicious intent to the three boys' activities.

"The Sheriff's Office would like to thank the alertness of our citizens," said Charlevoix County Sheriff W.D. Schneider. "This incident, although not ill intended, shows that our citizens are vigilant which improves the safety of our community."